France Announces First Strikes Against Islamic State Group In Syria

France says it has launched air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

The president's office said on September 27 that the strikes hit targets identified during reconnaissance missions conducted over the past two weeks.

President François Hollande later said that six French jets had struck an IS training camp in Syria, destroying their targets, and warned of more strikes in coming weeks.

"France struck in Syria this morning an Islamic State training camp which threatened the security of our country," Hollande told reporters at the United Nations in New York on September 27, about the strike on a camp near Deir al-Zor.

Earlier, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France was acting in "self-defense" and had targeted IS "sanctuaries where those who attack France are trained".

French jets have previously carried out air strikes against IS targets in neighboring Iraq. Earlier this month, President Francois Hollande announced France was considering launching strikes in Syria.

The French presidency's statement also called for "a political transition [in Syria] that brings together elements from the regime and the moderate opposition."​